Calling Liberals not the Left
Indeed one of the most distasteful aspects of our current hyper political mood is the willingness of the left, whether affiliated with Senator Pander or in the guise of an objective media, to seek and even encourage the gullible to support their candidate. While the Senator has taken no real stand other than to oppose to the President, the media and his open supporters have presented him as being for nearly all-possible positions. In this space I’ve lamented the loss of a real discussion of governments role, of policy and politics. In its place we have a party and a candidate who portrays himself as all things to all people. Is there anyone who believes the impact of his tactics, whether successful or not, is a positive turn of events? Is there anyway that this election will spark a renewed and earnest discussion of the issues?
Many pundits and political operatives will chastise the American voter for their gullibility or worse they’ll deny the gullibility of the voter and claim that the American voter is more informed in this age of constant communications than ever before. The reality is that while more data is available than ever before, the basic knowledge to decipher it remains at a low point. In response, the media disseminates untruths at a rate far exceeding the ability or time available for the average voter to deal with it. Our system of government requires, of the voters and of the candidates, a willingness to deal with truths and to build upon our limited working knowledge of political matters towards a sustainable set of principles for governance by the people. In lieu of truth, we have lies and deceits, arguments for positions in direct contradiction of voting records and a big tent ideal that brings those susceptible to the tomfoolery into the same camp as those they have nothing more in common with than being duped.
Will we return to a discussion of the issues? Not until liberal candidates arise within the Democratic Party with a willingness to be liberal, to espouse their convictions without hesitation, and with a moral grounding to campaign based on truth, win or lose. One of the first steps that the DNC can make is to distance themselves from the morally bankrupt left, which comprises the most vocal and energetic forces within their camp. Men like Ed Koch, Zell Miller and Joe Lieberman are supporting President Bush because there is no moral and sane alternative within their party. I for one, long for the day when once again there is an alternative, for we all will gain, win or lose, from political choice.
